"…It is said that on this continent, only by stepping onto the Path of Battle can one hope to reach the pinnacle of power and glory. Yet, craftsmen and Arcane Augmenters hold an equally irreplaceable value."
"Especially the profession of Arcane Augmenter—if one is blessed with a wealthy family, able to accumulate rare materials over the years and devote oneself to diligent study, then no matter where one goes, they will be received as honored guests by lords and knightly orders alike. Their status is in no way inferior to that of warriors, and may even surpass them…"
Upon the lecture platform, the voice of Rhea, a woman in her early thirties, rang out like a bronze bell. She was giving her final words of encouragement to the apprentices who were about to step into the Hall of Vocation.
What she spoke was knowledge every student had long since committed to memory, yet not a single one allowed their attention to wander—for today was the day when all third-year apprentices of the Kingdom's High Academy would undergo the Primary Vocation Awakening Ceremony together.
Sitting in the very last row, Jenson felt an irrepressible surge of excitement within his chest.
He was not a native of this land, but a traveler from another world called "Earth," where he had lived his previous life. Three years had passed since his arrival here.
In those three years, he had come to grasp the structure and survival laws of this world with absolute clarity.
It was a vast realm where reality intertwined with arcane law, a land thousands of times larger than Earth.
Countless "ruins," "secret realms," and "monster lairs" dotted its surface, while the wilderness teemed with colossal beasts capable of rending steel apart.
Every human here could strengthen themselves by hunting magical creatures, gaining battle experience, materials, and equipment—thus advancing their own power step by step.
In the laws of this continent, every youth, upon reaching the age of eighteen and breaking through the tenth rank of apprenticeship, may undergo a Vocation Change—gaining a profession's imprint and far greater power.
To ensure young people reach this threshold smoothly, the various nations establish academies, where mentors personally lead apprentices into low-tier secret realms or the wilderness to hunt, building combat experience until the day of the ceremony arrives.
Professions on the continent are broadly divided into three categories:
First – Combat Professions: warriors, mages, rangers, paladins, and other powerhouses who live by their battle strength.
Second – Arcane Augment Professions: though few in number, they can forge runic weapons and brew enhancement elixirs, empowering combatants to new heights. Common examples include enchanters, magitech artisans, and alchemists. However, these professions demand vast quantities of rare materials and long-term support—without a family's backing, advancing to higher tiers is nearly impossible.
Third – Civil Professions: the most numerous and often the lowest rung of society, such as bakers, herb gatherers, and ore miners. While these roles provide a living, they offer little means of survival in a turbulent land.
Jenson's aunt, Daisy, was a baker.
He had lost his parents at a young age, and it was Daisy—eight years his senior—who had raised him alone, enduring years of hardship.
After changing her vocation to Baker, Daisy spent countless years saving before she could purchase the Basic Magical Recipe – Wheat Healing Bread, a formula that allowed her to bake loaves capable of restoring a small amount of vitality. With it, she opened a modest bakery to make ends meet.
It was this bakery that had kept Jenson alive.
Because of this, Jenson understood well: if he could not become a powerful combat professional, then in this world where strength was supreme, he would forever be mired in the struggle for survival.
In the past three years, he had witnessed Daisy's sacrifices—her frugal meals, her worn clothes, all to ensure he could continue his studies.
Thus, his wish was simple: to become a warrior who could venture deep into the wilds, slay magical beasts, and explore secret realms—bringing back rare materials and equipment so that Daisy could live a life free from want.
"…I have just received word—the Vocation Altar has been fully erected in the Academy Plaza. All apprentices, form ranks and proceed at once!"
Rhea's voice pulled Jenson out of his thoughts.
The air in the classroom burned like a roaring flame—this was the day that would decide their fates. From this moment onward, the height one could climb in life would depend entirely on the imprint they received today.
Jenson rose silently to his feet and was about to follow the others toward the plaza when—
A cold, mechanical voice suddenly rang within his mind:
"Ding—high compatibility host detected. Binding to the Supreme Treasure-Seeking System in progress…"
"Ding—binding complete!"
The system… had arrived!
So it was true—the gift every transmigrator was destined to receive. It had come three years late, but as the saying went, a fine feast was worth the wait.
Suppressing the thrill surging in his chest, he walked in step with the others while probing the system's functions.
It didn't take long for him to grasp the principles:
Each day, he would receive a Treasure Map Scroll. So long as he reached the location marked upon the scroll, he could claim a reward.
The scrolls came in five tiers—Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Supreme, and Divine. The tier awarded each day was random, and the location was never fixed.
If a scroll's destination was too remote or difficult to reach, he could merge scrolls of the same tier—three of a lower tier could be combined into one of a higher tier.